Sowing the Seeds of Success
Institutionalizing a Successful
Retention Effort
Carolyn Bortz, MSN,RN
Dean, Allied Health and Science Division
Margery M. Lafferty, BSN, RN
Nursing Support Specialist
Northampton Community College
Bethlehem, PA
Executive Decree
“It is not enough to get our
students through the door,
we must make sure they
succeed once they have
entered.”
Dr. Arthur Scott, President
Northampton Community College
Northampton Community College
Nursing Program
Bethlehem, PA
Associate Degree in Applied
Science - RN
Professional Certificate in
Practical Nursing
Nursing faculty – 7 FT, 50 PT
Total students = 225
2004 – Our issue was….
25-30% attrition in the
program
Net Loss = 8-10 students per
cohort
What can be done to help
retain these students?
Dorothy Rider Pool Healthcare
Trust
The Recruitment and Retention of
Nursing Students
at
Northampton Community College
2004-2010
$227,000.00
2 funding cycles – 3 years each
Our goals became….
Identify academically at risk students
Create a program that promotes academic
success supported by a full time support
specialist
Establish a pedagogically harmonious
environment
Reduce attrition to less than 10%
Outcome Measures
Course & Program retention
levels
Number of student contacts
Assess utilization of services
Assess and track academic
performance
FINDING YOURSELF
A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE
Nursing Support Services at Northampton
Community College
Know your success
strategies!
Rapid Math Review
Sampling of
Nursing Program Interventions
Individual Academic Plans
Student Timeline
Study Skills Workshop/Organization
Rapid Math Review
Tutoring
Strategies to Maximize Your Test
Performance
Technical Writing Seminars
On Line Blackboard Postings
Conversation Circles
What barrier do you think inhibits students from
seeking out academic support programs/services?
1. Not enough time
2. Other
responsibilities
conflict
3. Embarrassment
4. Denial that they
need help/support
5. Don’t see the value
Nurturing an Ideal Habitat
AGGRESSIVE PURSUIT
APPEAL
AVAILABILITY
ACCESSIBILITY
and
APPROACHABILITY
of
Nursing Support Services
Germinating Success
Introduction to Nursing
NURS 101
Spring 2011
2.8% attrition in N101
(n=35)
Spring 2011 Student
Survey
 93% consistently used Nursing
Support Services
 92% rated Nursing Support
Services good to excellent with
supportive , enthusiastic, and
positive comments
 94% found the initial Individual
Academic Meeting most helpful
and informative
5,600 hits in 45 days!
January 1-February 14, 2012
On line
Program Specific Blackboard
Interventions
Attrition Rates for N101
40%
35%
PRIOR TO INTERVENTION
30%
25%
20%
15%
FOUR WITHDRAWS (TWO INTO PN PROGRAM) AND ONE ACADEMIC FAILURE
10%
5%
0%
FA04 FA06 SP07 FA07 SP08 FA08 SP09 FA09 SP10 FA10 SP11 FA11
Attrition Rate 30% 6% 5% 6% 3% 8% 9% 11% 4% 10% 2% 5%
Our challenge became…
…how can we institutionalize the
success strategies demonstrated
in this program to benefit more
students at NCC?
…what did we learn that could be
used to support student success
among the broader student
body?
Academic support services on our
campus are:
1. targeted to large
disparate groups of
students
2. focused on smaller
groups with specific
needs
3. a blend of both of the
above
4. I don’t know how I
would classify our
approach
Study Skills Marathon
Science Success Strategies
Developmental Education
Committee’s Toolbox
Sowing the seeds…
Success was leveraged – result
NSF Grant Proposal funding
for a STEM
Student Success Specialist
Collaboration on retention
strategies between specialists
Sowing the seeds…
Connect learning interventions with
other disciplines (Vet Tech
pharmacology)
Connect with other campus
groups/committees working on
retention efforts
Collaborate with other disciplinary
faculty to create learning objects
As a result of the STEM Student
Success Specialist role….
33%of Smart Scholars surveyed expect
to complete their academic program
sooner than originally anticipated
100% of Smart Scholars surveyed
would recommend the program to
others
How would you describe retention
efforts on your campus?
1. Well coordinated
2. Pockets of activities
loosely connected
3. Focused on specific
cohorts of students
4. Isolated programs,
not coordinated
If you have been using retention strategies, how
successful would you say they have been?
1. Very successful
2. Modestly successful
3. Not very successful
– We need help!
4. Just shy of a failed
attempt
From a campus planning perspective, what is the most
prominent barrier to enhancing retention efforts?
1. Cost
2. Personnel
3. Ability to engage
students
4. Administrative
oversight of such work
5. Gaining administrative
buy-in
Conversation Circle Time
Based on what you have heard
thus far and what your
campus efforts are around
retention, what can you take
back to share with colleagues
or what successes have you
had that are worth sharing
with your group?
What do you think is the key to
creating a successful student support
program?
•
•
•
•
Appeal of programs
Staff interpersonal skills
Aggressive pursuit of students
Consistent presence and
outreach
What We Have Learned
Success in any endeavor does not
happen by accident.
Rather it’s the result of deliberate
decisions, conscious effort and
immense persistence….
all directed at specific goals.”
G. R. Blair
Have you found this presentation
helpful?
1. Yes
2. No
Contact Information
Carolyn Bortz, MSN
Dean of Allied Health and Sciences
610-861-5455
cbortz@northampton.edu
Margery M Lafferty, BSN,RN
Nursing Support Specialist
610-861-5528
mlafferty@northampton.edu
In appreciation…
Innovations
Conference 2012
Philadelphia, PA
March 4-7, 2012